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Ntubeni ‘happy’ to miss out on Bok selection

Western Province hooker Scarra Ntubeni views his exclusion from the Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship as a blessing is disguise.

Most players would be disappointed to miss out on a Springbok squad, but Ntubeni feels he will benefit more playing for WP in the Currie Cup.

"If I got picked for the Springbok squad I probably wouldn't play any rugby for the next eight weeks. Maybe even more," Ntubeni said.

Springbok coaches usually pick three hookers in their squad, meaning one of them is more likely to carry around tackle bags around rather than play rugby.

That was Ntubeni's role during the June Tests against Ireland, but he has since been replaced in the squad by Lions hooker Malcolm Marx.

Bok coach Allister Coetzee feels it's more important that the injury prone Ntubeni gets on the playing field more often.

"The past two seasons have been frustrating with all my injuries. Hopefully I can now kick on from the Super Rugby tournament. It's important for me to get a good season under my bealt, because that was not possible these last two years," added Ntubeni.

He will now get valuable game time for Western Province in their Currie Cup campaign where coach John Dobson sees him as part of the team's leadership core.